The Patients' Rights Advocacy Program responds to questions and complaints from patients in psychiatric hospitals/facilities and residents of halfway houses or board and care homes who feel one or more of their rights have been denied.

Anyone with a question or concern about treatment of a client receiving mental health services in Alameda County is welcome to call.

The toll-free telephone # in Alameda County is 800-734-2504; outside the county, dial 510-835-2505.

The most frequently asked questions and categories of complaint calls we receive involve:

1. Involuntary Detention

   5150, 5250 and types of hearings.

2. Medication

   When can patients decide? When does a patient lose the right to decide?

3. Rights

   What rights do patients have in the hospital?

4. Denial of Rights

   Can any rights be denied? Which ones? How does a right get denied? Who can deny a right?

5. Least Restrictive

   Are there alternatives to denying a right? Are there less restrictive alternatives?  

6. Conservatorship

   What is a Conservatorship? What powers can be given to Conservator or Guardian?

Click on the subject title for additional information about these topics